CHAPTER 62
The last few days since he’d woken from the brightness of what he now knew was his new enhanced mind space had been a whirlwind of well wishes from his now expanded family.
The moment Caster allowed him to leave the safety of their bed, he’d been engulfed in the Queen’s love and her endless care.
Mark had been hugged so many times by the Queen and Amelia, who wouldn’t stop crying; he was beginning to feel like a stuffed animal.
He’d made Caster tell him everything that had happened while he’d remained imprisoned by his own fear.
The manner of Ethel’s death remained a concern, but both Edie and Riley had assured him that she was gone.
They’d spent the first few days after her death scouring the earth and the border between the Underworld and their world for an inkling of her soul, finding nothing.
Pierce had never returned, and while his presence in their world was also a cause for concern, Mark would not let it interfere with the joy of the day.
For the first time in a while, they were happy.
He could not contain his smile as he watched Cy, Caster and Damien more relaxed than he’d ever seen them.
Dean had told him of Caster’s grief after the witch had attacked him, the rage it had brought, and how they all worried he would harm himself or others.
So, the carefree smile he wore now was a gift Mark was determined to hold on to.
“You brought him that joy.” Too lost in his love for Caster, he jumped at the King’s low voice. He was certain the barrier keeping his thoughts private was still intact, but there was no harm in making sure.
“He saved me.” The truth of his confession washed over him, and he realized its impact.
Caster tore him away from grief he was sure would swallow him whole, gave him purpose, and now promised an eternity of happiness.
Thoughts of their future life together brought to his attention their main problem at the moment. “We need a place to live.”
“You can stay here as long as you want.” The King chuckled. “My wife would love that very much.”
Mark could not help his own laugh, drawing Caster’s attention. They smiled at each other from across the room, and his joy increased. “I’m sure she would.”
“But you have something else in mind?”
Like his son, the King had the uncanny ability to see more than the physical; at least that’s what it often felt like.
He turned away from Caster, who remained engaged in heated conversation with his brother and cousin. “Can we talk about it?”
The King nodded and indicated the privacy of his study. He glanced at Caster before following the King to the more private quarters. He accepted the offer of both the comfort of a seat and a much-needed drink.
His plan had come together as the threat of Pierce’s unknown whereabouts and the niggling sense that they had not seen the last of Ethel threatened the security he’d found. The King looked at him with the same patient expression his son often wore, waiting for him to find his voice.
“None of us have a home, and I think it would make sense for all of us to be in the same location in case we have to deal with a threat such as the one…”
The King nodded, but his patience remained, encouraging Mark to present his idea.
“I found one.” He watched the King’s expression, overcome by the way he already sought his approval.
The only other person to elicit a similar desire in him had been his grandfather.
He fortified his mind against memories that would only bring grief and took a breath, reaching into his pocket for his phone.
“I haven’t told Caster yet. I wanted to speak to you about it first.”
The King smiled. “If it is anything like your plan to end Ethel’s threat to this family, I am sure it is good for everyone.”
He nodded and scrolled through his phone for the property he’d found a few days ago.
Caster had been telling him of his plans to rebuild the cabin, Damien’s destroyed properties, and how unsafe it felt to have both Bastian and Zeke imprisoned in this house when the desire to find a more permanent solution had taken root.
His mind had gone into planning mode, and a few hours of searching had yielded what he thought was the perfect solution.
He located the advertisement on his device and handed it to the King, watching his face with anticipation as he read. It was an island in the Pacific, cut off from any major cities, far enough away from humans that they could be themselves, but above all, easily defensible.
The King looked at him for a long moment, and then the door burst open. Mark frowned when a frantic Marcus walked in.
“What…”
The King silenced his questions by handing him the device. Marcus skimmed through the words and then caught Mark’s eye. “This is perfect.”
Relief washed over him. “It costs too much, though.”
The King waved his concern away. “The money is not an issue.”
Mark had known he would say that, and while he was certain Caster’s family was wealthy enough to come up with the $500 million asking price, that would not be the only cost. “It is run down and will require a lot of renovation before we can…”
Marcus handed him his phone, his face devoid of the concerns Mark held on to. “Damien has more money than he knows what to do with.” He smiled, and Mark’s confidence in his plan grew. “Talk to him. Come up with a plan.”
“I will purchase the island, put it in yours and Caster’s names,” The King said, silencing Mark’s argument with a subtle shake of the head. “We all need this place.”
Marcus sat next to him. “It is easy to defend. Have you talked to your brother about it?”
Mark shook his head. Werewolves would be hardest to convince of his plan. He only hoped Dean would see it his way. “It is still only just an idea.” Then he looked at his phone. “But the person I talked to said we need to act quickly, if we want it.”
The King stood. “Then that’s what we will do.”
Mark envisioned a future where they had a whole island to themselves, where Werewolves, Vampires and witches could live in harmony.
It was a tall order, trying to bring the three species together, but Ethel’s determination to destroy them and the real present threat from the Underworld had necessitated cooperation.
He was convinced that cooperation needed to remain intact, plus an island where they could be free to be themselves under the protection of Riley’s magic didn’t sound very bad.